Handle assembly for luggage or the like



March 4, 1969 A. N. DELIA ETAL 3,430,742

HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR LUGGAGE OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 11, 1967 32 \a, 34 /w /A :24 2a 2a 2e FIE 2 26 2a I V H I k e FIE c;

INVENTORS ANTHONY N-D'ELIA AND EDWARD M- STOLARZ ATTORNKY United States Patent 3,430,742 HANDLE ASSEMBLYIfIgll; LUGGAGE OR THE Anthony N. DElia, Riverdale, and Edward M. Stolarz, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., assignors to Presto Lock Co., Inc., Garfield, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 659,986

US. Cl. 190-58 13 Claims Int. Cl. A45c 13/10, 13/22, 13/26 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to improvements in handle assemblies for luggage cases, portable containers, or the like.

The desirability of making luggage cases or the like wherein the protrusion of the luggage hardware is minimized has been recognized in the art. From an aesthetic point of view, it is desirable that the protrusion of the handle, for example, detract as little as possible from the continuous contour lines of a luggage case. Nevertheless, suflicient space must be provided between the handle and the adjacent Wall of the case to permit easy grasping of the handle.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a handle assembly for luggage cases or the like in which the projection of the handle from the case wall is minimized when the handle is at rest and yet may be readily increased to facilitate carrying of the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handle assembly in which the handle returns automatically from a projected carrying position to a recessed rest position when the handle is released.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide handle assemblies which meet the foregoing requirements and are nevertheless simple, economical to manufacture, sturdy, and attractive.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with'the drawings illustrating preferred and exemplary embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a handle assembly made in accordance with the invention when connected to the wall of a luggage case or to a valance member secured to the peripheral edge of the luggage case, the luggage case wall being only partially shown;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in the plane of line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing all of the components of the handle assembly, in one embodiment, this view showing the handle member in its rest position relative to its associated anchor devices;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the handle assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the luggage case wall being shown in section, this view showing the rest position of the handle member in full lines and the carrying position of the handle member in phantom lines;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of an anchor device of the invention, with the wall of the luggage case shown in section;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 55 of FIG. 3; and

by a suitable connecting means 26 FIG. 6 is a side elevation View, partly in section, of a further embodiment of the invention.

Generally, a handle assembly in accordance with the invention comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced anchor devices and a handle member pivotally supported .by and between the anchor devices. The anchor devices are adapted for connection to the wall of a luggage case or the like. The longitudinal pivotal axis of the handle mem ber is located in a plane extending near the top ends of the anchor devices, or remote from the bases of the anchor devices, and the handle member normally (in its rest position) has most of its height positioned below the pivotal axis. Thus, with a handle member substantially equal in height to the height of the anchor devices, the handle member is asymmetrically related to the pivotal axis so that in the rest position the handle member is substantially entirely between the anchor devices and adjacent the wall of a luggage case. When the handle member is grasped and rotated about its pivotal axis to a projected carrying position, the handle member for a major portion of its height extends above the top ends of the anchor devices. In the carrying position, the area occupied by the handle member in its rest position is occupied by the hand which grasps the handle member. Since the major portion of the asymmetrically mounted handle members mass normally is below the pivotal axis, the handle member is pendulous; it returns automatically to rest position when a persons grasp thereon is released. As a result, the projection of the handle member is minimized until it is grasped for carrying.

In greater detail and referring to the drawing, a handle member A is connected to a wall B of a luggage case or the like by a pair of longitudinally spaced anchor devices C. The handle member has a central portion 10 adapted to be grasped by the hand of a user of the luggage case and opposite end portions 12. In the illustrated and preferred forms of the invention, the handle member comprises a frame 14 which embraces an insert 16. The frame 14 may be a die casting of a relatively heavy material such as a zinc alloy provided with an attractive corrosion resistant finish. The insert may be of a suitable molded plastic material, for example, polystyrene, methyl methacrylate, a vinyl resin such as a polymer of vinyl chloride or a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, polyurethane, a natural or synthetic rubber, etc., materials which are suited for gripping. As shown in FIG. 5, the insert 16 may have longitudinal shoulders 18 into which corresponding marginal portions 20 of the frame may fit. The frame and insert may be secured to one another in any conventional manner. The marginal portions 20 of the frame may be clinched to the insert or the insert may be press-fitted into the frame and further retained therein by virtue of the pivotal handle mounting to be hereinafter described. Although a two-piece handle is illustrated, it is within the scope of the invention to make the handle as a one-piece member, either as a die casting or a molded plastic .part.

The anchor devices C may be identical and preferably are die cast of a suitable material such as a zinc alloy and suitably finished. Each anchor device has a mounting or base portion 22 and an upstanding portion 24. In the forms of the invention illustrated, the anchor devices resemble angle brackets with the upstanding portion of each anchor device in the form of a stud portion. If desired, the anchor devices may be triangular or rectangular in side elevation, though this entails more material for the parts. The base portions 22 may be secured to the wall B such as integrally formed connecting studs or rivets which are extended through corresponding holes in the wall B and then have their ends or heads expanded over washers 28 as well known in the art. Each stud portion 24 has an integral stub shaft or trunnion 30 which projects toward the other I anchor device and is spaced from the wall B. The stub shafts are received within corresponding bearing recesses 32 provided in the end portions 12 of the handle member A to provide for pivotal or rotating movement of the handle member about an axis a (FIGS. 2 and 6) spaced from the portion of wall B between the anchor devices. The recesses 32 preferably penetrate the insert 16, thereby to permit the stub shafts 30 to engage both the frame and insert of the handle member.

The handle member A is asymmetrically mounted rel ative to its longitudinal pivotal axis a, so that in the at rest position the distance between the axis a and the lower extremity of the handle member is substantially greater than the distance between such axis and the handle members upper extremity. In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the handle member A is generally U-shaped with a rectangular outline. The pivotal axis a is adjacent to the tops of the vertical legs of the U. The handle member is constructed so that it is rotatable between a recessed rest position (solid line showing of FIG. 3), at which the central grasping portion 10 is between the anchor devices C predominantly at the lower side of axis a, and a carrying position (phantom line showing of FIG. 3), at which the central grasping portion is predominantly at the upper side of the axis a. Thus, in its rest position the handle member is recessed between stud portions 24 adjacent to the wall B, while in its carrying position the handle member is projected to a position relatively remote from the wall B.

The rectangular outline of the handle member is preferred so that the handle member fits neatly within and complements the rectangular space defined by the upstanding stud portions 24 and the wall B when the handle member is in its rest position. The height of the handle member is approximately the same as the height of the anchor devices, and the length of the handle is approximately the same as (though slightly less than) the distance between stud portions 24. For example, the anchor devices and the handle member may each have a height of one (1) inch, and the handle member may have a length of four and one-half (4.5) inches. In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, one side of the handle member is undercut, as shown at 34, to provide the U-shape, so that in the carrying position the space between the central grasping portion of the handle member and the wall B is enlarged. The handle member may easily be rotated from its rest position by the users fingers and grasped in the hand H as shown in FIG. 3.

In accordance with the invention, the handle member may be made to return automatically from its carrying (inverted) position to its rest position (at which the projection of the handle is minimized) when it is released. This is accomplished by making the handle member pendulous, that is, by constructing the handle member so that its center of gravity is below the axis a when the handle member is in its rest position. The handle member will then always tend to return to its rest position when released. By making the handle frame 14 of a relatively heavy material, such as the Zinc die casting referred to above, the desired asymmetry of the handle mass relative to axis a is obtained. The plastic material of the insert 16 has less density or mass than the handle frame. The pendulous character of the handle member is enhanced by making the handle member thicker at the side farther from axis a. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the handle may be tapered so that its thickness increases in approaching wall B in the rest position. The tapered shape of the stud portions 24 complements the shape of the end portions 12 of the handle member, and in its rest position the bandle member does not project appreciably from the space defined by stud portions 24 and wall B.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the invention in which the handle member A, instead of being shaped or undercut, as 34 in FIG. 2, has uniform height across I positioned between its length. Nevertheless, the bottom of the handle member is farther from the pivotal axis a than the top and the handle member may have a rectangular outline and tapered vertical section as before. Although the embodiment of FIG. 6 does not provide as much space for the users hand as the embodiment of FIGS. 15 for the same distance between wall B and the pivotal axis, the protrusion of the handle in its rest position is still considerably less than in its carrying position, and automatic return of the handle to its rest position is also provided.

FIG. 6 further illustrates an alternative method of pivotally supporting the handle member (which maybe employed with the handle shape of FIGS. 1-5 as well), wherein the stud portions 24 of the anchor devices C are provided with bearing recesses 32 for receiving stub shafts 30', which may be integral with the metal frame 14' embracing the plastic insert 16'. The free ends of the stub shafts 30' may be enlarged as shown and seated within corresponding shoulders of the recesses 32' in order to center the handle member A between the stud portions 24'. With the last-mentioned bearing construction, the preassembled handle member and anchor devices are attached to the wall B as a unit, while the bearing construction of FIG. 2 permits assembling the anchor devices with the handle member in situ as these parts are joined with the wall B. Centering of the handle member relative to the stud portions 24 of FIG. 2 may be accomplished by engagement of the free ends of the stub shafts 30 with the bottoms of the recesses 32.

The handle assemblies of the invention may be mounted upon one of a pair of mating luggage case sections, for example, which may be formed of any suitable wear-resistant material, such as molded plastic material, or drawn aluminum or the like, and which may provide sufficient rigidity to permit the anchor devices to be secured directly to the wall of the luggage case. It is preferred to provide the peripheral edge of one of the case sections with a valance member, whereupon the valance member furnishes the wall B to which the anchor devices C are secured. Where the luggage case sections are provided with valance members at their adjoining peripheral edges, the case sections may be made of a soft or flexible material, such as leather or leatherlike materials.

The advantages and improved results of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. These advantages and improved results are accomplished without sacrificing strength, simplicity or economy. It will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A handle assembly for a luggage case or the like comprising a pair of spaced anchor devices each having a base portion and an upstanding portion, and a handle member having a central grasping portion and opposite ends pivotally related to said upstanding portions for rotation of the handle member about a pivotal axis spaced from said base portions, the handle member being asymmetrical relative to said axis and rotatable about said axis between a rest position wherein the handle member is said upstanding portions predominantly at one side of said axis, and a carrying position wherein the handle member is projected predominantly at the opposite side of said axis.

2. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the height of the handle member is approximately equal to the height of the upstanding portions.

3. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle member is pendulous and the center of gravity of the handle member is between the axis and the base portions when the handle member is in its rest position.

4. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle member is generally U-shaped.

5. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle member is undercut adjacent to the axis to minimize protrusion of the central portion when the handle member is in its rest position and to provide additional space for grasping when the handle member is rotated to carrying position.

6. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein each anchor device provides a stub shaft projecting therefrom in the direction of the other anchor device, and each end portion of the handle member has a bearing recess receiving a corresponding stub shaft.

7. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein each anchor device has a bearing recess, and each end portion of the handle member has a stub shaft extending into a corresponding bearing recess.

8. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein each anchor device is in the form of an angle bracket comprising a base portion and a stud portion at a right angle to the base portion, and each stud portion has an outline complementing the corresponding outline of the end portions of the handle member.

9. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle member comprises a frame embracing an insert.

10. A handle assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the frame is metal and the insert is plastic material.

11. In combination with a wall of a luggage case or the like, a handle assembly comprising a handle member having a central grasping portion and opposite end portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced anchor devices mounted on the wall adjacent to said end portions respectively, said end portions being pivotally connected to said anchor devices about an axis spaced from a portion of the wall between the anchor devices, the height of the anchor devices and of the handle member at its end portions being substantially equal, the pivotal axis being located near the top of the anchor devices and extending through the handle member near the top of the end portions when the handle member is in rest position whereby the handle member is asymmetrical relative to the axis, the handle member being free to rotate about said axis between a rest position wherein the handle member is received between the anchor devices predominantly at one side of the axis adjacent the wall portion, and a carrying position wherein the handle member is predominantly at the opposite side of the axis and relatively remote from the wall portion.

12. In the combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein the height of the handle member is approximately equal to the height of the anchor devices.

13. In the combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein the central portion of the handle member is undercut adjacent the axis to provide additional space for grasping the handle member when it is rotated to carrying position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

